US trains Malawi govt journalists on e-media

Director of Information and Civic Education Chikumbutso Mtumodzi has commended the American Government for supporting his ministry and the country at large to improve communication of government information.

Mtumodzi made the remarks at the Public Affairs Section of the US Embassy in Lilongwe Monday when he presided over official opening E-media training for Ministry of Information and Civic Education.

Government has established an e-media section within the ministry of information and civic education to further enhance its presence and accord the citizenry timely access of government information though social media.

Mtumodzi officially opens the E- Media training for Journalists at the Public Affairs Section of US Embassy – Pic by Lisa Vintulla

Through the training, ministry of information e-media staff are expected to get an insight on how to effectively handle communications for government especially in the wake of mushrooming of digital media in our now digital world.

‘’We are gathered here at the beginning of what we believe is a very important training programme for officers which government has tasked to man the newly established E-media section in the Ministry of Information and all thanks to American Government for making this possible,’’ Mtumodzi said.

He described the training timely saying it would help equip the ministry with better ways of running managing social and online government communication platforms.

The Director added that, “Communication is dynamic; new and better ways of reaching out to people keep emerging, hence the mediums of reaching out to various stakeholders also keep evolving making it imperative for all those involved in the communications business to also keep learning.”

On his part, US Embassy Public Affairs Officer Gabriel Hons-Olivier said it is a dream of the American Government to see Malawi make progress in e-media saying that is the only way people can have more access to information from government.

‘’The training will also support U.S Mission’s strategic goal of improving Democracy and Governance and transparency in Malawi through better communication by the government of Malawi,’’ Olivier said.

The US Government has been Malawi’s true and trusted partner since independence and the two Governments continue to collaborate in various sectors such as Agriculture, Defense, Health, Education, among others.